Toothbrush



y 9, 1933- c. E. DODSON 1,908,511

TQOTHBRUSH Filed Dec. 15 1950 6 INVENTOR. /4 60//0//f. 000300 ATTORNEY.

Patented May 9, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT erter;

CARROLL E. IDODEON, OF KANSAS CITY, MI-SOURL ASSIGNOR TO LYKQ MEDICINECOM- PANY, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION. OF MISSOURI ITOOTHBRUSH Application filed December 15, 1.930. Serial No. 502,459.

My invention relates to tooth-brushes and more particularly to a brushof that character including a handle having an end portion adapted forcarrying a head member;

the principal object of the invention being to facilitate replacement ofthe head member on the handle portion and hold the head member securelyto the handle portion when the head member is in place.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I haveprovided improved details of structure, the preferred form of which isillustrated in the accompanylng drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a toothbrush embodying the features ofmy invention.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan View of the brush.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the toothbrush showing the head memberremoved from the handle.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4, Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5, Fig. 4.

Referring in detail to the drawing:

1 designates a tooth-brush including a handle member 2 having a headportion 3 and constructed of any suitable material, such as celluloid,amber or like compositions which may be readily cast or machined to 30the desired form to provide retaining means on the head portion for aremovable head member 4.

The head portion 3 of the tooth-brush is preferably formed on one sideof the handle by the increased thickness of the material and is recessedfrom adjacent the ends thereof to form a seat 5 between retainer ears 6and 7 for receiving and retaining the head member 4 in assembledrelation thereon, as hereafter described.

Extending centrally and longitudinally through the head portion belowthe seat 5 is a groove 8 receiving a longitudinal tongue 9 on the headmember 4 for properly aligning the head with the head portion of thehandle and having an enlarged portion 10 for receiving a finger 11projecting from one end of the head, the end of the finger being 56spaced from the end of the groove when engaged therein to permit liftingof the finger for removing the head from the seat 5.

Formed in the sides of the head portion 3 and extending parallel withthe central groove 8 are recesses 12 terminatingadjacent the ears 6 andforming rail portions 13 on opposite sides of the groove 8 for engagingslots or channels 14 on opposite sides of the tongue 9 on the headmember.

T he recesses 12 areadapted for receiving the side flanges 15 of thehead member which lie flush with the side edge surfaces of the head,thus forming a smooth continuous surface for thehead of the brush whenthe head member is assembled thereon; v I

In order that the head member 4 may be retained on the seat 5 when thebrush is being used, the ears 7 are undercut slantingly as shown in Fig.4, and are adapted for engaging the inclined tooth-like edges 16 at theend of the head-member, the edges 16 being set back from the end 17 inslots 18 engageable over the ears 7, The ears 6 at the opposite end ofthe head member seat 5 are slightly inclined and curved to receive andfrictionally engage the tapered end 19 of the head member and therebyretain the head member on the head portion of the handle when the toothbrush is in use.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the head member4may be fitted withdifferent attrition means such as bristles as shown ofdifierent degrees of stiff ness and that the head members may be readilyinterchanged for different treatments or removed for replacement by newhead mem-' bers after the attritionmeans have become worn. It will alsobe apparent that the head members 4 may be fitted with pads adaptedparticularly to treat the gums or the teeth, or both, thereby increasingthe usefulness of the tooth-brush handle. What I claim and desire tosecureby Let ters Patent is: V

1. A tooth-brush including a handle having a longitudinal groove andlongitudinally spaced ears on each side of the groove forming retainermeans thereon, and a head mem her having retainer means removably and.1.

frictionally engaging the retainer means on the handle to maintain thehead member and handle in assembled condition.

2. A tooth-brush including a handle having retainer means including alongitudinal grove and longitudinally spaced fixed ears on eachside ofthe groove forming a seat, and a head member-engageable with said seatand having retainer means including a tongue removably and friotionallyseated in saic groove-forlatchingthe head member on said handle.

3. A tooth-brush comprising a handle having an enlarged end portionforming a head and provided with a longitudinal groove terminating in asocket having an arcuate bottom, tongues on each-side of said groovehaving-undercut ears on the endsthereof, portions of. saidv tonguesbeing inset from the side edges of the-head to formshoulders, a headmember comprising a base portion having grooves to receivesaid tonguesforming a tongue receivable in the groove of the handle head, flanges onsaidv head member engageable with said shoulders having undercut endsengageable with saidbeveled ears, and-a finger projecting from one endof said head member receivable in said socket.

4. In a, device of, the character described, a handle having a pair ofspaced rails on one of its faces forming a groove, and a head memberhaving atongueengageable in said groove and fiangesspaced from thetongue to engage the outer side faces of said rails for frictionallylatching the head member to said handle.

5; Ina device of the character described, a handlehaving spacedlongitudinal rails on one of its faces forming a groove and inset fromthe side edges'of the handle to form shoulders, and a head member havinga tongue engageable in said groove and having flanges engageable withsaid shoulders to re movably latch the'head member to'said handle. Y a IG In a device of the character described, a handle'having spaced railson one of its faces torminga longitudinal groove and havinglongitudinally spaced ears at opposite ends of the rails, and a headmember frictionally engageable between said ears'and having a tonguefrictionally engageable in saidgroove. v 1

v 7. A tooth-brush includinga handle hav inga head portion of increased?thickness on one side of the handle and, provided with a longitudinalgroove formed in said head portion to locate the bottom of the groovesub.- stantially in the plane of said; side of the handle, and having apair of laterally spaced earsatone-end of the head portion and a headmember having. atongue engageable in said groove and end edgesengageable with said ears, and having a finger projecting from one endof the head member toengage betweenisaid-laterally'spaced ears. I

8. In a tooth-brush, a handle having a head portion, longitudinallyspaced fixed ears on the head portion including an undercut car at oneend of the head portion, and a head member having a beveled end toengage said undercut ear and an opposite end engageable with theopposite one of said ears for latching the head member on the headportion of the handle.

. 9. In a tooth-brush including a handle having a longitudinal grooveand. a latching socket, a head member having a tongue on one endcngageable in said groove and a rigid finger projecting longitudinallyfrom the opposite end of said head member and frictionally engagcable insaid socket for latching the head member to the handle.

In testimony whereof I aflix mysignature.

- CARROLL E. DODSON.

